 |
| Giant Oak Tree, Next to Massey Building, West End Entrance,graphite on paper, 11.5x16.5 inches, 2009;This giant Oak works best portrayed at a distance. It is another tree of tremendous scale hard to overlook. Like the Sycamore, there is a tall trunk before the branch structure begins therefore showing most of the whole tree works best. The tree has a massive and interesting base and that was a determining factor to do a composite- showing the whole tree from a distance and a detail of the trunk. |
 |
| Southern Magnolia Tree, Front Entrance to Ball Building,graphite on paper, 11.5x16.5 inches, 2009;A Southern Magnolia with a low lying and twisting limb is located in front of the Ball Building. The patina of the limb shows that it has accepted countless perches and climbs. This is an interesting tree that would be considered one of the finest on campus because of its scale, surface quality and limb structure. |
 |
| Trio of Two Maples and Tulip Poplar Trees in Sloane Quadrangle,graphite on paper, 24x31 inches, 2009;In the Sloane Quadrangle there is an interesting and windswept Maple that has the most elegant limb structure of any trees at MBA. Another Maple, of notable age and size- behind the Ball Building has a wonderful bark texture and nicely formed branch structure. Near the Patrick Wilson Library there are steps leading to the Sloane Quadrangle. At the top of those steps is a stately Tulip Poplar of considerable size with a compelling bark pattern. These three trees along with some nearby architectural details make up a composite |
 |
| Giant Sycamore Tree in Front of Patrick Wilson Library, Gambill Quadrangle,graphite on paper, 19.25x14 inches, 2009;A giant and majestic tree, the scale is almost overwhelming and it has remarkable coloration and branch structure. As a composition I determined it would work best showing most of the tree structure, with a trace of the library behind it to help show the powerful scale. This would be considered a historical and significant tree. |
 |
| Basswood with Statuary Behind Ball Building,oil on canvas, 40x30 inches, 2009;An impressive and somewhat rare Basswood is located near the middle of campus. This tree is beautifully shaped and has an interesting trunk and low lying branches- it is old as well. Although not as grand as the previously mentioned Sycamore and Oak, you could argue that the Basswood is the most appealing of the trees because of its age, the twisting bark on the trunk and the embracing limb structure. The Basswood was chosen to be a painting because of the above mentioned attributes and it central location on campus. |
 |
| “Working directly on site, in front of the trees, I engage in an encounter experience which is essential to creative process. Deeper aspects of awareness are activated to the extent that the artist is committed to the encounter with subject. This is why working exclusively from photographs or calendar pictures often fall short of achieving genuine creativity- there is no quality of emotion or engagement with the reality of the subject. What develops from an intensity of encounter is joy- the emotion that goes with heightened consciousness, the mood that accompanies the experience of actualizing one’s own potentialities.” |